Boat



5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 18, 1945. D A, WALLACE BOAT Filed Jan. 20, 1944i/g/u-fl,

ATTORNEYS.r

INVENTOR KIZ/ ZZ/46e NRV AAM Sept. 18, 1945. D. A. WALLACE 2,384,981

BOAT

Filed Jan. 20, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

Sept' 18, 1945- D. A. WALLACE 2,384,981

BOAT

Filed Jan. 20, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Sept. 18, 1945 BOAT DaviaA. Wallace, Detroit, Mich., assigner to Chrysler Corporation, HighlandPark, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application January 2'0, 1944,Serial No. 518,947

36 Claims.

Ving the boats over dry land. Since a most convenient way of transportis by rail, it is highly desirable, if not imperative, to make them of asize to fit railway freight or flat cars. Accordine,r to the presentinvention, boats are made in sections in width comparable to that of ailat car and are assembled at the body of water in which they are toiioat.

Another aspect of the present application is concerned with the shapingand arrangement of a power boat, such as a tug for moving large barges.The tug or power boat should be easily maneuvered and steered and shouldbe capable of being run ih both directions. The present inventionprovides a mode of accomplishing these purposes.

The two aspects of the invention' are closely related in that the powerboat or tug arranged for easy steering and maneuvering as contemplatedherein may be most conveniently manufactured in sections.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved boat madein sections. This makes possible an easy transport of the boat by railor by any other system limiting dimensions of objects transported.

Another object is the provision of improvements in the joining of boatsections and the securing means therefor. When a boat is made in parts,it is desirable that the parts be easily assembled and disassembled, andthe joints and securing means are important items for achieving thisend. Furthermore, it is necessary and desirable that the portions of thesections at which the sections are joined be well protected.

A further object is to provide a tug or power boat capable of easysteering and maneuvering. This involves a special shaping of the boatand arrangement of the parts. It is carried out ad- Ivantageously with aboat having two propellers.

` It has been discovered that a power boat arranged as contemplated inthe invention of the present application for easy control is of such ashape that it is most convenient to make the boat in sections.

Other objects will appear from the disclosure.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the boat of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the boat;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the boat, taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective exploded view of the boat;

Figs. 5, 6, '7 and 8 are sectional views taken on the lines 5 5, 6 6,'l-l, and 8-8`of Fig. 2;

Figs. 9 and 10 are sectional views taken on the lines 9-9 and' Ill-I 0of Fig. 1;

Fig. 11 is a view showing sections of the boat of the present inventionmounted on railway flat cars; and

Fig. 12 is an end view showing a modified form of boat.

The reference character 20 designates the novel boat of the presentinvention. The boat 20 has a hull formed of a right-hand pontoon section2|, a left-hand pontoon section 22, a right-hand tractor section 23, anda left-hand tractor section 24. They are best seen individually in theexploded view of Fig. 4. As seen in Fig. 7, each pontoon section isformed of an inner side sheet 25, an outer side sheet 26, a top sheet21, and a bottom sheet 28 curved upwardly at its front portion to meetthe top sheet 2l. 'Ihe sheets are joined to one another by a top-innerangle member 29, a top outer angle member 30, a bottom inner anglemember 3l, and a bottom outer angle member 32. The angle members arejoined to the 'sheets by welding or riveting, as may be desirable. Theforward portions of the lower angle members 3l and 32 are curved inconformance with the bottom sheet 28. Each pontoon section has a rearsheet 33 joined to the other sheets of the section by angle members ofwhich only a top rear angle member 34 and outer side angle member 35 areshown. The angle member 34 is secured to a reinforcing sheet 36 attachedto the rear sheet 33 for a purpose to be described presently. Thepontoon sections 2i and 22 are Water-tight and serve to buoy up thetractor sections 23 and 24, which would sink orl tip over otherwise.Each pontoon section has secured thereto attaching angle pieces 31 and38 at the top 2l, 39 at the rear 33, and 40 at the curved forwardportion of the bottom 28. The pontoon sections 2| and 22 are juxtaposed,as shown in Fig. 7, with a bottom spacer board 4| (Figs. 7,

8 and 9), rear spacer board 42 (Fig. 9) and a plurality of short topspacer boards 43 (Fig. 9) between the pontoon sections. Bolts 44 betweenthe angle pieces hold the sections together. The space between thesections is filled by an easily fusible sealing mass 45, such as a tarcompound or an asphalt compound, which will seall the space between thepontoon sections and protect them. The pontoon sections are assembled bya novel process kthat involves securing the sections in slightly spacedrelation by means of the bolts 44 and the spacer boards 4|, 42 and 43and introducing the sealing mass 45 in molten condition into the spacebetween the pontoon sections through spaces between the top spacerboards 43. The bottom spacer board 4| and the end spacer board 42prevent the sealing mass 45 from owing out from between the pontoonsections until it can harden. The pontoon sections 2| and 22 are alsoheld together by channel members 46 extending across the fronts of thesections adjacent the top thereof. The channel members 46 are secured tothe pontoon sections by bolts 41 attached to the sections. A prow member48 is provided as shown in Figs. l and 2. As shown in Figs. 2 and 8 itis hollow and is formed of sheet metal. It covers the attaching anglepieces 40 and their joining bolts 44 at the curved front portions of thepontoon sections-and is secured by angle pieces 49 and bolts 50 to thecurved front portions. To the tops 21 of the pontoon sections aresecured curved members lwhich abut one another in assembled position ofthe pontoon sections so as to form a splash guard. Within each pontoonsection is a gas tank 52 supported on channel members 53 extendingbetween the side sheets 25 and 26.

Each of the tractor sections 23 and 24 is formed at a forward portion,as shown in Fig. 6, of a top sheet 54, an inner side sheet 55, an outerside sheet 56, and a bottom sheet 51. The sheets are joined by anglemembers 58 secured to the sheets by riveting or welding. The top sheet54 has an opening 59, which provides access to the interior of thetractor section, and which is closed by a cover 60. The top sheet 54extends the full length of the tractor section, as shown in Fig. 4. Theside sheets 55l and 56 extend the full length of the tractor sectiononly at their upper portions so that they are shallow at their rearparts as indicated at 6| and 82 anddeep at their front parts asindicated at 53 and 64. Curved and streamlined sheets 64a are joined bywelding to the rear edges of the front parts 63 and 64. The rear part ofeach tractor section is shallower than the front part, as is evidentfrom a comparison of Figs. 5 and 6, and at this part a bottom sheet 65is provided, which is curved at its front edge to conform to thecurvature of the sheet 64a and is joined thereto by welding. Anglemembers 66 secure the rear parts 6| and 62 of the side sheets 55 and 56to the bottom sheet 65. The rear end of each tractor section is closedby an end sheet 61 secured to the sheets 54, 55, 56 and 65 by anglemembers not shown. The front end of each tractor section is closed by anend sheet 68 secured to the side sheets 55 by an angle member 69 and tothe top sheet 54 by an angle member 10 secured to a reinforcing plate 1|attached to the end sheet 68 by welding or riveting. Similar anglemembers, not shown, join the end sheet 68 to the sheets 55 and 51. Thetractor sections 23 and 24 are made water-tight.

The tractor sections are secured to the pontally as a hawser guide.

toon sections 2| and 22 by bolts 12 and nuts 13, as shown in Figs. 1 and10. The bolts pass through holes 14 in the pontoon sections and holes 15in the tractor sections arranged in pairs near the corners of thesections as shown for the holes 14 in Fig. 4. The tractor section 23 issecured in slightly spaced relation to the pontoon section 2|, and thetractor section 24, to the pontoon section 22, by spacer boards similarto those between the pontoon sections. Fig. 9 shows a side spacer board16 between tractor section 24 and pontoon section 22, and Fig. 10 showsone of a series of short spacer boards 11 between the same sections atthe top. An easily fusible sealing mass is applied in the space betweeneach tractor section and the corresponding pontoon section in the samemanner and for the same purpose as it is applied between the pontoonsections. The bolts 12 are suitably sealed at the openings 14 and 15against leaka.

The outer sides of the tractor sections are generally aligned with thoseof the pontoon sections, and, since the tractor sections are slightlynarrower than the pontoon sections, there is formed between the tractorsections a slot 18 extending from the rear of the boat |0 andterminating at the pontoon sections. 'I'he securement of the pontoonsections to one another and the securement of the tractor sections tothe pontoon sections tends to maintain the tractor sections in spacedrelation, and this tendency is insured by positive means acting directlybetween the tractor sections. Horizontal angle pieces 19 are secured toinner side faces 55 of the tractor sections nearthe top thereof, andstraight pieces of a length equal to the width of the space 18 aresecured to the angle pieces 19 by bolts 8|. Planking 82 is laid acrossthe straight pieces 80. Vertical angle members 83 are secured to theinner sheets 55 at the rear edges, and a vertical plate 84 of a width ofthe slot 18 extends across them and is secured thereto by bolts 85. AU-shaped channel 88 is secured by its ends to the outer sheets 56 of thetractor sections and at mid regions to short channels 81 secured to theinner sheets 55. The main portion of the U-shaped channel 86 is spacedrearwardly of the rear end sheets 61 of the tractor sections and isrearward of rudders 88 and propellers 89, serving as a guard for them. AU-shaped structure 90 formed of pipe sections 9| and 92, elbows 93, andflanges 94, is secured by its ends to the top sheets 54 of the tractorsections and extends upwardly therefrom. This structure is adapted toserve inciden- All these means just described insure the maintenance ofthe slot 18 between tractor sections.

Each tractor section carries an engine 95, supported on channels 96,supported in turn on a channel 91 secured to the front sheet 68 and on achannel 98 secured to the curved back sheet 64a. A drive shaft 99extends from the engine through the curved back sheet 84a and carriesthe propeller 89. The shaft 99 is supported in a bearing |00 mounted onthe sheet 64a and in a bearing bracket |0| depending from the bottomsheet 65. At each inner side sheet 55 in the slot i 18 is a coolingconduit |02 in serpentine form connected by lines |03 and |04 with eachengine 95.r The engine for the tractor section 24 receives gas from thegas tank 52 in the pontoon section 22 by a gas line |05 passing from'thepontoon section 22 to the tractor section 24 lengthwise through a bolt12 joining these sections, as shown in Fig. 10. Another gas line |05passes similarly from pontoon section 2| to tractor section 23,

Rearwardly and upwardly inclined angle members |05 are secured to theinner side face 55 of the tractor sections, and a board |01 of a widthof the space 18 is secured to the under sides of the angle members I 08,as shown in Fig. 9.

In operation of the boat I both propellers are driven in the same or inopposite directions to propel the boat forwardly or rearwardly throughthe water. A column of water is produced in the slot 18 that may reach alevel indicated by the dash-dot line |08, well above the level of thewater in which the boat oats as indicated by the dash-dot line |09. Thebody `or column of Water so produced swirls and moves sufficiently so asto act as a sort of guide to the boat, for it resists transverse bodilydisplacement. The inclined board |01 provides an upwardly and rearwardlyinclined end of the slot 18 that enables the Water to pass more easilyinto the slot and to reach its higher level. 'I'he aforesaid body ofwater in the slot serves as a guide whether the boat is propelledforwardly or rearwardly and supplements the action ofthe rudders 88. Itis of particular advantage when the boat is moving rearwardly for theboat would normally be very difficult to steer. It is important thatportions of the tractor sections 23 and 24 extend, over the propellers89 in order that the water set in motion by the propellers may be forcedup into the slot 18.

As seen in Fig. 9, the under surface portion of the pontoon sections inline'with the slot 18 is definitely below the line |09 indicating thenormal water level. This aids in the production of an elevated body ofwater in the slot. As is seen from Figs. 4 and '1, the aforesaid undersurface portion is denitely below the normal water level, because theunder surface extends in generally unbroken fashion crosswise of theboat or any one transverse section is at the same level.

The shallow portions 62 of the outer sheets 55 carry depending sideboards IIO, which are of advantage, when the water is rough, or` theboat is being turned, in preventing air from being carried into thepropellers from the sides of the boat. 'I'his would interfere with theformation of a body of Water of satisfactory height in the slot 18.Inner boards IIOa depend from the inner sheets 55 and prevent air frombeing carried to the propellers from between the tractor sections 2l.

Fig. 12 is a rear end view of the boat, showing a modified form of arear portion I II of the boat extending over the propellers 89. It maybe desirable to have these propellers large for the provision ofsufficient propelling force, and large propellers might have to be placequite low under a ilat rear portion. Consequently, the rear portions III present curved bottoms I2, which are alongside the propellers at theedges. This arrangement positively insures that the propellers operatein the water without and provide a good column of water in the slot 18.1

'I'he boat I0 is provided with an operators station |I3 positioned overthe planking 82 covering the slot 18. 'I'he station ||3 includes a wheelI I4 jointly controlling both rudders 88 by a cable I I5 passing overpulleys ||6 and II1. The stationis also to carry controls, not shownlfor the engines 95.

A railing I8 extends around the tractor section 23 and 24.

As has been previously stated, the propellers 89 produce the body ofwater of increased height in the slot 18, whether they are run in thesame direction or in opposite directions. It is of advantage that thepropellers may be run in the same direction, for then the 'propeller andengine of one tractor section are interchangeable with those of theother tractor section, and the problem of replacement of parts issimplified.

The boat I0 may be used as a tug to pull or push a barge or other boat.Fig. 2 shows hitch structure II8 by which the boat I0 is connected toabarge |20.v

The boat I0 is made in sections so that it may be easily transported byrail. Each section is of a width that will enable it to be carried on arailway ilat car. Fig. 11 shows a tractor section secured to a fiat carI2| and connected tractor and pontoon sections secured to an adjacentflat car |22. Thus it will be seen that the sections may be transportedby rail either singly or in pairs of I pontoons and tractor sections.When the sections are to be so transported after they have been aS-sembled into a completed boat, they are separated easily by melting outof the sealing masses between them and removal of the attaching parts.Lifting members |23 secured to the sections facilitate lifting thesections to and from flat cars.

Iclaim:

l. A power boat comprising a hull having a part of considerable widthand a pair of vsections formed separately from one another and from thepart and being of a small width less than half of the Width of the part,and means securing the sections to the part in spaced opp to resistbodily lateral displacement.

v2. A power boat comprising a hull having a. part of considerable widthand a pair of sections formed separately from one another and from thepart and being of a small width less than half of the width of the part,and means securing the sections to the part in spaced opposed relationto one another so as to cause a slot to be formed between the sectionsextending from one end of the hull and terminating in an end formed bythe part, and power units mounted in the sections for moving the boatthrough the water.

3. A power boat comprising a, hull having a part of considerable widthand a pair of sections formed separately from one another and from thepart and being shallow at one end and deep at the other end and of asmall width less than half of the width of the part, and means securingthe sections to the part in spaced opposed relation to one another so asto cause the deep ends of the sections to be adjacent the part and theshallow ends to be spaced from the part and to cause a slot to be formedbetween the sections extending from one end of the hull and terminatingin an end formed by the part, power units positioned in the deep ends ofthe sections, and moving parts driven by the power units and positionedbeneath the shallow ends of the sections for producing in the slot abody of water swirling and moving sufficiently to resist bodily lateraldisplacement.

4. A power boat comprising a pair of pontoon sections secured to oneanother, a pair of tractor sections each having a width less than halfof the combined width of the pontoon sections, means securing to thepontoon sections the tractor sections in spaced opposed relation to oneanother so as to cause a slot to be formed between the tractor sectionsextending from one end of the hull and terminating in an end formed by`the pontoon sections, power means carried in the tractor sections, andmoving parts driven by the power means and positioned beneath thetractor sections so as to engage the water in which the boat floats forproducing in the slot a body of water swirling and moving suflicientlyto resist transverse-bodily displacement. v

5. A power boat comprising a pair of pontoon sections secured to oneanother, a pair of tractor sections each having a Width less than halfof the combined width of the pontoon sections and a large depth adjacentone end equal to the depth of the pontoon sections and a small depthadjacent the other end appreciably less than the large depth of ther oneend, means securing to the pontoon sections the tractor sections inspaced opposed 'relation to one another with the ends of large depthadjacent the pontoon sections so as to cause the ends of the tractorsections of small depth to be at one end of the hull and a slot to beformed between the tractor sections extending from the said one end ofthe hull and terminating in an end formed by the pontoon sections, powerunits mounted in the ends of the tractor sections of large depth, andmoving parts driven by the power units and positioned beneath the endsof the tractor sections of small depth so as to engage the water inwhich the boat floats for producing in the slot a body of water swirlingand moving sufficiently to resist transverse bodily displacement.

6. A power boat comprising a pair of pontoon sections secured to oneanother, a pair of tractor sections each having a width less than halfof the combined width of the pontoon sections and a large depth adjacentone end equal to the depth of the pontoon sections and a small depthadjacent the other end appreciably less than the large depth of the oneend, means securing to the pontoon sections the tractor sections inspaced opsections, power units mounted in the ends `of the tractorsections of large depth, containers of fuel for the power units mountedin the pontoon sections, fuel lines extending from the containers'through the bolts to the power units, and moving parts driven by thepower units and positioned beneath the ends of the tractor sections ofsmall depth so as to engage the water in which the boat floats forproducing in the slot a body of Water resisting bodily lateraldisplacement of the boat.

8. A power boat comprising a pontoon section, a fuel containerpositioned in the pontoon section, a tractor section. Power meansmounted in the tractor section for moving the boat through the water,means securing the sections together and including a bolt, and a fuelline extending from the fuel container through the bolt to the powermeans.

9. A hull for a power boat comprising two pontoon sections, meanssecuring the pontoon sections together in a side-by-side relation ofimmediate adjacency, two tractor sections, and means securing to theends of the pontoon sections the tractor sections in spaced side-by-siderelation to one another for causing a slot to be formed only between thetractor sections.

10. A hull for a power boat comprising a pair of pontoon sections eachhaving a flat vertical rear, a fiat horizontal top, and a curved portionmerging the rfront and the bottom, means securing the pontoon sectionsto one another in sideby-side relation, said means including anglemembers attached to the exteriors of the pontoon sections at the tops,rears, and curved portions and elements interconnecting the anglemembers, tractor sections for propelling the boat having fiat verticalfronts, and means securing the tractor sections to the pontoon sectionswith the fronts of the former in engagement with the rears of thelatter, said means including bolts posed relation to one another withthe ends of f large depth adjacent the pontoon sections so as to causethe ends of the tractor sections of small depth to be at one end of thehull and a slot to be formed between the tractor sections extending fromthe said one end of the null and terminating in an end formed by thepontoon sections, power units mounted in the ends of the tractorsections of large depth, containers of fuel for the power units mountedin the pontoon sections, and moving parts driven by the power units andpositioned beneath the ends of the tractor sections of small depth so asto engage the water in which the boat floats for producing in the slot abody of water resisting bodily lateral displacement.

7. A power boat comprising a pair of pontoon sections secured to oneanother, a pair of tractor sections each having a width less than halfof the combined width of the pontoon sections and passing through thesaid fronts and rears.

11. A hull as specified in claim 10, the means securing the pontoonsections further including channelv members extending across the frontthereof adjacent the top.

12. A hull as specified in claim 10 and further comprising a hollownarrow prow secured to the curved portions of the pontoon sections andcovering the angle members attached to the curved portions.

13. A hull for a power boat comprising a pair of pontoon ,sectionsy eachhaving a flat vertical rear, a nat horizontal top, and a curved portionmerging the front and the bottom, means securing the pontoon sections toone another in sideby-side relation, said means including angle membersattached to the exteriors of the pontoon sections at the tops, rears,and curved portions and elements interconnecting the angle members,tractor sections for propelling the boat having flat vertical fronts,means securing the tractor sections to the pontoon sections with thefronts of the former in engagement with the rears of the latter and withthe tractor sections in spaced side-by-side relation so as to form aslot extendling from the rear of the boat and having the tractorsections as its sides and the pontoon sections as its end, said securingmeans including bolts passing through the fronts of the tractor sectionsand the rears of the pontoon sections, and means holding the tractorsections in spaced relation and including horizontally extending anglemembers attached to the tractor sections along the slot just below thetops of the tractor sections, horizontal pieces extending across theslot and contacting the angle members, and fasteners connecting thepieces to the angle members.

14. A hull for a power boat comprising a pair of pontoon sections eachhaving a flat vertical rear, a flat horizontal top,y and a curvedportion merging the front and the bottom, means securing the pontoonsections to one another in side-by-side relation, said means includingangle members attached to the exteriors of the pontoon sections at thetops, rears, and curved portions and elements interconnecting the anglemembers, tractor sections for propelling the boat having at verticalfronts, means securing the tractor sections tothe pontoon sections withthe fronts of the former in engagement with the rears of the latter andwith the tractor sections in spaced side-by-side relation so as to iorma slot extending from the rear of the boat and having the tractorsections as its sides and the pontoon sections as its end, said securingmeans including bolts passing through the fronts of the tractor sectionsand the rears of the pontoonsec'- tions, propellers and ruddersconnected to the tractor sections for propelling and steering the boat,means including a. cable for controlling the rudders jointly, and meansfor holding the tractor sections in spaced relation, said holding meansincluding horizontally extending angle members attached to the tractorsections along the slot just below the tops of the tractor sections,horizontal pieces extending across the slot and contacting the anglemembers, fasteners connecting the pieces to the angle members,vertically extending angle members attached to the tractor sectionsadjacent the rears and tops thereof, a vertical plate extending acrossthe slot, fasteners connecting the plate to the angle members, aU-shaped hawser guide attached by its ends to the tops of the tractorsectlonsand extending upwardly therefrom and across the slot, and aU-shaped bumper connected by its ends to the rear outer regions of thetractor sections and extending horizontally rearwardly therefrom toprotect the propeller and rudders.

15. A power boat comprising a hull having a vertical slot extending fromone end of the hull and terminating in an end at a region intermediatethe ends thereof, the end of the slot sloping toward the said one end ofthe hull in an upward direction so as to be less spaced from the saidone end of the hull at the top of the hull than at--the bottom thereof,and power-driven means including moving parts engaging water in whichthe boat floats to move the boat through the water and being positionedat opposite sides of the slot so as to cooperate with the sloping end ofthe slot to produce in the slot a body of water resisting bodily lateraldisplacement of the boat.

16. A power boat comprising a hull having a vertical slot extending fromone end of the hull and terminating in an end at a region intermediatethe ends thereof, power-driven means in-v cluding moving partspositioned beneath portions of the hull at opposite sides of the slot soas to engage the water in which the boat floats for moving the boatthrough the water and to cause a body of water in the slot to serve as arudder to the boat, and means providing the end of the slot with asurface sloping toward the said one end of the hull in an upwarddirection for cooperating with the moving parts to cause the body ofwater in the Vslot to resist bodily lateral displacement oi' the boat.

17. A hull comprising a pair of sections, means securing the sections toone another with adjacent portions in spaced relation, and fusiblesealing material filling the space between the sections for protectingthe adjacent portions and supplementing the securing means in holdingthe sections together. y

18. A hull comprising a pair of pontoon sections, a pair of tractorsections, means securing the pontoon sections to one another withadiacent portions in spaced relation, means securing one tractor sectionto one pontoon section with adjacent parts in spaced relation, Ameanssecuring the other tractor section to the other pontoon section withadjacent parts in spaced relation, fusible sealing material filling thespaces between Aadjacent portions of the pontoon sections and adjacentportions of the tractor sections and the pontoon sections for protectingthe adjacent portions and supplementing the securing means in holdingthe parts together. i

19. A hull comprising a pair of sections juxtaposed with adjacentportions in spaced relations. spacing strips between the adjacentportions at the front, bottom, and rear of the sections, me-

'chanical parts securing the sections together at the mechanical parts,and a fusible sealing material positioned between the adjacent spacedportions of the sections for protecting the adjacent spaced portions andsupplementing the securing action of the mechanical parts.

20. The hull specified in claim 19 and further including a spacing partlocated between the adjacent spaced portions of the sections at the topthereof. v

21, A hull comprising a pair of pontoon sec- 40 tions juxtaposed withadjacent portions in spaced relation, a pair of tractor sections, onetractor section being next to one pontoon section with adjacent portionsin spaced relation, the other tractor section being next to the otherpontoon section with adjacent portions in spaced relation, stripsbetween the adjacent spaced portions of the pontoon sections, along thefront, rear, and bottom, between adjacent spaced portions of the onetractor section and the one pontoon section along the sides and bottom,and between the adjacent spaced portions of the other tractor sectionand the other pontoon section, mechanical parts securing the sectionstogether, and fusible sealing material positioned between the adjacentspaced portions of the sections for protecting these portions andsupplementing the securing action of the mechanical parts.

22. The hull specified in claim 21 and further including spacing partsbetween the various adjacent spaced portions of the sections at the topsthereof.

23. A power fboat comprising a hull formed of a pair of pontoon sectionssecured to one another in side-by-side relation and a pair of tractorsections secured end to end to the pontoon sections in spaced relationso as to form a vertical slot between them, power units carried by thetractor sections for moving the boat through the water, and a controlstation for the power units bridging the vertical slot.

24. A power boat comprising a hull having a vertical slot extending fromone end of the hull and terminating in an end at a region between theends, power plant means positioned in the hull, cooling means for thepower-plant means positioned in the slot so as to be adapted to haveheat-exchange contact with the water in which the boat floats, andmoving members driven by the power plant means and positioned beneaththe hull and on opposite sides of the slot so as to engage the water inwhich the boat floats for moving the boat through the water and causingthe water in the slot to resist bodily lateral movement of the boat. A

25. A power boat comprising a hull having a vertical slot extending fromone end of the hull and terminating in |an end at a region between theends, power units positioned in the hull at opposite sides of the slt,cooling conduits for the power units positioned at the sides of the slotso as to be adapted to have heat-exchange contact with the water inwhich the boat oats, and moving members driven by the power units andpositioned beneath the hull and on opposite sides of the slot soas toengage the water in which the boat oats for moving the boat through thewater and causing the watery in the slot to resist -bodily lateralmovement of the b'oat.

26. A power boat comprising a hull having a vertical slot extending fromone end of the hull and terminating in an end at a region between theends, each of the portions of the hull opposite the vertical slot havinga shallow region at and vadjacent; the said one end of the hull and adeep region at and adjacent the end of the slot, the end of the deepregion joining the shallow region having a curved vertical surfacestreamlining the deep region, power units positioned in the deepregions, drive shafts projecting from the power units through thestreamlined ends of the deep regions to below the shallow regions, andpropellers on the drive shafts below the shallow regions driven by thepower units through the drive shafts so as to propel the boat throughthe water.

27. A power boat comprising a hull having a vertical slot extending fromone end of the hull yand terminating in an end at a region between theends, yeach of the portions of the hull opposite the vertical slothaving a shallow region at and adjacent the said one end of the hull anda deep region at and adjacent the end of the slot, the end of the deepregion joining the shallow region having -a curved vertical surfacestreamlining the deep region, power units positioned in the deepregions, drive shafts projecting from the power units through thestreamlined ends of the deep regions to below the shallow regions,propellers on the drive shafts below the shallow regions driven by thepower units through the drive shafts so as to propel the boat throughthe water, and plates projecting downwardly from the outer sides of theshallow regions of the hull portionsat opposite sides of the slot forpreventing air from reaching the propeller from the said outer sides.

28. A power` boat comprisingA a hull having a vertical slot extendingfrom one end of the hull and terminating in an end at a region betweenthe ends, each of the portions of the hull opposite the vertical slothaving a shallowI region at and adjacent the said one end of the hulland a deep region at and adjacent the end of the slot. power unitspositioned in the deep regions, propellers driven by the power units andpositioned below the shallow regions so as to propel the'boat throughthe water in which the boat floats and to cause water in the verticalslot' to resist bodily lateral movementof the boat, and platesprojecting downwardly from the outer sides of the shallow regions of thehull portions at opposite sides of the slot for preventing air fromreaching the propellers from the said outer sides.

29. A power -boat comprising a hull having a vertical slot extendingfrom one end of the hull and terminating in an end at a region betweenthe ends, propellers positioned below the hull at opposite sides of thevertical slot for moving the boat throughr the water in which it iloatsand causing the water in the slot to resist bodily lat- -eral movementof the boat, and plates projecting downwardly from the outer sides ofthe hull portions at opposite sides of the slot for preventing air fromreaching the propeller from the said outer sides.

30. A hull for a power lboat adapted for transport over railways, saidhull comprising a pair of pontoon sections, means detachably attachingthe pontoon sections in side-by-side relation, a pair of tractorsections of less width than that of the pontoon sections, Iand meansdetachably attaching the tractor sections to the pontoon sections inend-to-end relation so as to provide a vertical slot between the tractorsections, the sections being of a width comparable to that of a railwaycar and being thereby enabled to be transported over railways completelydetached from one another or with a pontoon section attached to atractor section.

31. A power boat comprising a hull having a vertical slot extending fromone end of the hull and terminating in an end at a region intermediatethe ends of the hull, the slot dividing the rear end of the boat intotwo portions, powerdriven means including moving parts positionedbeneath the said two portions of the hull at opposite sides of the slotso as to engage the water in which the boat floats for moving the boatthrough the water and for causing a body of water in the slot to resistbodily lateral movement of the boat, the bottoms of the said twoportions of the hull being concave so as to cause these two portions todepend at the sides of the moving parts of the power-driven means forinsuring that the body of water in the slot resist bodily lateralmovement of the boat.

32. A power boat ycomprising a hull having a vertical slot extendingfrom one end of the hull and terminating in an end at a region betweenthe ends, each of the portions of the hull opposite the vertical slothaving a shallow region at and adjacent the said one end of the hull anda deep region at and adjacent the endof the slot, power units positionedin the deep regions, propellers driven by the power units and positionedbelow the shallow regions so as to propel the boat through the water inwhich the boat floats and to cause water in the vertical slot to resistbodily lateral movement of the boat, and plates projecting downwardlyfrom the outer and inner sides of the shallow regions of the hullportions at oppositesides of the slot.

33. A power boat comprising a hull having a slot extending from one endof the hull and terminating at a region intermediate the ends thereof,and power-driven means including moving parts engaging the water betweenthe end of thev slot and the said one end of the hull for producing inthe slot a body of water swirling and moving suiiiciently to resistlateral bodily displacement and having a level higher than that of thewater in which the boat floats, the portion of the hull between the endof the slot and the other end of the hull having an under surfaceextending in generally unbroken fashion crosswise of the boat so as toprovide in line with the slot and between the end thereof and the saidother end of the hull an under surface section below the water level forassisting the power-driven means in raising the level of the body ofwater in the slot.

34. A power boat comprising a hull having a slot extending from one endof the hull and terminating at a region intermediate. the ends thereofand power-driven means including moving parts positioned below theportion of the boat at opposite sides of the slot for engaging water inwhich the boat oats to move the boat through the water and to produce inthe slot a. body of water swirling and moving suiciently to resistlateral bodily displacement and having a level higher than that of thewater in which the boat oatsy the hull having a rst section in line withthe slot and between the end of the slot and the other end of the hullat approximately the same level as other under surface sections betweenthe end of the slot and the said other end of the hull for causing thesaid rst under surface section to be below the level of the water inwhich the boat floats for assisting the power-driven means in raisingthe level of the body of water in the slot.

35. A power boat comprising a hull having a slot extending from one endof the hull and terminating at a region intermediate its ends and havingless depth at portions at opposite sides a level higher than that of thewater in which the boat floats, the portion of the under surface of thehull in line with the slot and between the end of the slot and the otherend' of the hull being so related in level to adjacent portions of theunder surface as to be considerably below the level of the water inwhich the boat floats for assisting the power-driven means in raisingthe level of the body of water in the slot.

36. A power boat comprising a hull having a slot extending from one endof the hull and terminating at a region intermediate the ends there- .ofand having shallow portions at opposite sides of the slot for a part ofthe way from the said one end of the hull to the end of the slot anddeep portions at opposite sides of the slot for the rest of the way tothe end of the slot, power units in the deep portions, and moving partsdriven by the power units and positioned beneath the shallow portionsfor engaging water in which the boat oats to move the boat through thewater and to produce in the slot a body of water swirling and moving ata. suihcient rate to resist lateral bodily displacement and having alevel higher than that of the water in which the boat floats, the undersurface of the hull between the end of the slot and the other end of thehull being of a uniform level crosswise of the hull for causing theportion of the under surface in line with the slot and between the endof the slot and the said other end of the boat to be considerably belowthe level of the water in which the boat floats for assisting the movingparts in raising the level of the body of water in the slot. y DAVDJ A.WALLACE.

